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A Cold War Sailor: A Military Memoir
“I looked up from the instrument panel in my Huey helicopter to see the main rotor blade strike a tree.
The next sensation was one of falling, hitting the side of the hill in the Talladega National Forest in rural Alabama, followed by a sudden stop. Well, dying was not as bad as I thought it would be! Now, if someone would only turn off that jet engine screeching in the background. Wait a minute, I am not dead, but if that engine keeps running, it could explode, and the whole helicopter would go up in flames. Great, survived the crash but died in the fire.
Welcome to the world of Naval Aviation.”
“Cold War Sailor” takes you on one Navy Pilot’s journey from the end of the Vietnam War to the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. The U.S. Navy trained me to be a Naval Aviator, taught me to think outside the narrow confines of my education and upbringing, and allowed me to explore the world. Service in the Navy expanded my horizons both personally and professionally. In return, I gave the U.S. Navy thirty years of my life and got the better end of the deal.
I was a part of the expanding missions and capabilities of the Navy Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter community with deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and the Western Pacific. As one of the first Joint Staff Officers in the Navy, I spent eleven years in positions of increasing responsibility in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), culminating as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
I commanded Helicopter Anti-Squadron Light THREE SEVEN during DESERT STORM in the Persian Gulf, and Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy during operation DELIBERATE FORCE in Kosovo, and deployed to Bosnia Hercegovina for NATO’s first out of area operation with the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) Headquarters as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff.
An unusual military memoir that gives the reader a view into the expansion and initial combat operations of NATO. It also provides background on the development and deployment of the initial Navy Joint Staff Officer’s in response to the Goldwater-Nichols Act.
I cannot remember the specific incident, but I will remember the moment forever.
The next sensation was one of falling, hitting the side of the hill in the Talladega National Forest in rural Alabama, followed by a sudden stop. Well, dying was not as bad as I thought it would be! Now, if someone would only turn off that jet engine screeching in the background. Wait a minute, I am not dead, but if that engine keeps running, it could explode, and the whole helicopter would go up in flames. Great, survived the crash but died in the fire.
Welcome to the world of Naval Aviation.”
“Cold War Sailor” takes you on one Navy Pilot’s journey from the end of the Vietnam War to the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. The U.S. Navy trained me to be a Naval Aviator, taught me to think outside the narrow confines of my education and upbringing, and allowed me to explore the world. Service in the Navy expanded my horizons both personally and professionally. In return, I gave the U.S. Navy thirty years of my life and got the better end of the deal.
I was a part of the expanding missions and capabilities of the Navy Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter community with deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and the Western Pacific. As one of the first Joint Staff Officers in the Navy, I spent eleven years in positions of increasing responsibility in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), culminating as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
I commanded Helicopter Anti-Squadron Light THREE SEVEN during DESERT STORM in the Persian Gulf, and Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy during operation DELIBERATE FORCE in Kosovo, and deployed to Bosnia Hercegovina for NATO’s first out of area operation with the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) Headquarters as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff.
An unusual military memoir that gives the reader a view into the expansion and initial combat operations of NATO. It also provides background on the development and deployment of the initial Navy Joint Staff Officer’s in response to the Goldwater-Nichols Act.
I cannot remember the specific incident, but I will remember the moment forever.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2023
48 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
JOHN J COYNE
1 bookJack is a retired Navy Captain and a career Naval Aviator, with over 30 years of service flying helicopters in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Western Pacific. One of the pioneer Joint Staff Officers in the Navy, he spent eight consecutive years overseas with experience at every level of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including Norfolk, Virginia, Naples, Italy, Sarajevo, Bosnia Hercegovina, Brussels, Belgium and Washington, D.C. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, and concurrently with the Implementation Force (IFOR) in Sarajevo, Bosnia Hercegovina during OPERATION DELIBERATE FORCE. He later was the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. An Unrestricted Naval Aviator with almost 3,700 flight hours, he commanded Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light THREE SEVEN at Barbers Point, Hawaii during OPERATION DESERT STORM in Kuwait. Selected for Major Aviation Command, he served as Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy during OPERATION ALLIED FORCE in Kosovo. He lives in Fairfax with his wife Linda and enjoys tennis, travel, and spending time with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 25, 2023
What sets "Cold War Sailor" apart is the author's ability to capture the essence of naval aviation and the growth of the Navy Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter community. The book offers vivid descriptions of deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, and the Western Pacific, allowing readers to feel the intensity and challenges of life as a naval aviator.
The narrative becomes even more fascinating when the author details his eleven-year stint as one of the first Joint Staff Officers in the Navy, during which he witnessed the expansion and initial combat operations of NATO. This unique perspective provides invaluable insight into the organization's early days and the response to the Goldwater-Nichols Act.
The memoir also highlights the author's remarkable career, from commanding Helicopter Anti-Squadron Light THREE SEVEN during DESERT STORM in the Persian Gulf to his leadership at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy during operation DELIBERATE FORCE in Kosovo. The personal touch comes through when he recalls deploying to Bosnia Hercegovina for NATO's first out-of-area operation, serving as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) Headquarters.
Throughout the book, the author's writing style keeps readers engaged. The narrative flows seamlessly, and his anecdotes are both insightful and engaging. He strikes a perfect balance between recounting thrilling military operations and sharing the personal moments that left a lasting impact on his life. The storytelling is vivid and authentic, bringing readers into the cockpit of helicopters, the corridors of power in NATO, and the heart of naval operations.
What truly makes "Cold War Sailor" a must-read is its authenticity and the author's ability to convey the emotional depth of his experiences. This is not just a book about military missions but a profound reflection on personal growth, adaptability, and the sense of duty that comes with serving one's country. The author's dedication to the U.S. Navy is evident, and his gratitude for the opportunities and experiences he gained during his thirty-year service shines through.
The narrative becomes even more fascinating when the author details his eleven-year stint as one of the first Joint Staff Officers in the Navy, during which he witnessed the expansion and initial combat operations of NATO. This unique perspective provides invaluable insight into the organization's early days and the response to the Goldwater-Nichols Act.
The memoir also highlights the author's remarkable career, from commanding Helicopter Anti-Squadron Light THREE SEVEN during DESERT STORM in the Persian Gulf to his leadership at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy during operation DELIBERATE FORCE in Kosovo. The personal touch comes through when he recalls deploying to Bosnia Hercegovina for NATO's first out-of-area operation, serving as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) Headquarters.
Throughout the book, the author's writing style keeps readers engaged. The narrative flows seamlessly, and his anecdotes are both insightful and engaging. He strikes a perfect balance between recounting thrilling military operations and sharing the personal moments that left a lasting impact on his life. The storytelling is vivid and authentic, bringing readers into the cockpit of helicopters, the corridors of power in NATO, and the heart of naval operations.
What truly makes "Cold War Sailor" a must-read is its authenticity and the author's ability to convey the emotional depth of his experiences. This is not just a book about military missions but a profound reflection on personal growth, adaptability, and the sense of duty that comes with serving one's country. The author's dedication to the U.S. Navy is evident, and his gratitude for the opportunities and experiences he gained during his thirty-year service shines through.
October 17, 2023
A Neutral, Upfront and honest perspective from the eyes of a battle tested and hardened Naval Officer.
October 19, 2023
A Blunt, to the point book.
October 23, 2023
Learned about things I did not know too much about, or though I knew about. A good analysis of the workings of military bureaucracy, especially relating to aspects of NATO .
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews